subees



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. L. A. SUBERS.

LEAF RETAINING CLASP.

No. 340,638. Patented Apr. 27, 1886.

-FIGJ.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsShet 2. L. A. SUBERS.

LEAF RETAINING CLASP.

No. 340,638. Patented Apr. 27, 1886.

. LIA CRMMW N. PETERS. Phnwmhn m hur, Washinglom n C.

UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

ONE'HALF TO THOMAS N.

SUBERS, OF SAME PLACE.

LEAF-RETAINING CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,638, dated April27, 1886.

Application filed June 8, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE A. Scenes, a citizen of the United States,residing in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,haveinvented certain Improvementsin Leaf-Retaining Clasps,

of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to so construct a leaf-holding clasp forbooks as to prevent said clasp from slipping down too far over the hook,and to permit the ready turning of the leaves, without removing theclasp from the book. This object I attain in the manner which I will nowproceed to describe, refer ence being bad to the accompanying drawings,1 5 in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improvedleafholding clasp applied to a book; Fig. 2, a similar view showing howa leaf is turned; Fig. 3, a sectional view on an enlarged scale of theleaf-holding clasp; Fig. 4, a sectional plan of the same, and Fig. 5 ade tached section of part-of the clasp.

My improved leaf-holding clasp comprises two clamping-jaws, A and B,lugs a on the former being pivoted B, and each clamp having anextension, d, so that by pressing said extensions toward each other theclamps can be readily separated, a coiled spring, f, tending to closethe clamps. On the rear clamp, A, some distance from the edge of thesame, is a projecting tongue, 9, which serves to limit the extent towhich the clamps are allowed to project below the upper edge of a bookwhen applied thereto, as shown in Fig. 1, the tongue by contact with theupper edge of the book-hack serving as a stop to limit the descent.

The rear clamp, A, has near each end an elastic stud, '2', these studsbearing against the 0 backs of the book when the latter is open, andinsuring such pressure upon the hacks that the leaves on each sides ofthe open book will be firmly retained by the pressure of the frontclamps,B,thereupon, even though the number 5 of leaves on one side isconsiderably in excess of the number on the opposite side, as shown inFig.4, the clamps having such elasticity that they w1ll readilyaccommodate themselves to lugs hen the clamp Serial No. 168,064. (Nomodel.)

to the unevenly opened book. The elastic studs z are preferably adaptedto screwstems 5o m,secured to the clamp A, as shown in Fig. 5,

so that said studs can be readily removed and replaced by new ones whennecessary.

The front clamp, B, has in its edge a central recess, n, of such depththat when the said clamp B is raised slightly from the leaves of thebook, as shown in Fig. 2, a leaf can be readily turned from one side tothe other without striking the edge of the clamp.

By providing the clamp A with a stop-plate, 9, so that it will retainitself in proper position on the upper edge of the book, the device isrendered specially applicable to musicbooks, as the leaves of the samecan be quickly turned, there being no necessity for readjusting theclamp in position on the book upon the turning of each leaf.

The back of the rear clamp,A,is preferably covered with plush or otherfabric to pre Vent it from scratching or otherwise marring 7o polishedsurfaces with which it may come in contact.

I claim as my invention-- 1. A leaf-holding clasp in which are combinedthe pivoted clamping-jaws A and B, a spring acting thereon, a stop, andopposite bearing-studs, as set forth.

2. A book-holding clasp in which front and rear springclamps arecombined with a stop,

9, said front clamp having a central recess, 91, 8c in the edge, asspecified.

3. The combination of the rear clamp having astop, g, and bearing studsz, the front clamp having a recessed edge, a, and the spring f, as setforth.

4. The combination of the rear clamp having screw-stems m, with theelastic studs 1', adapted to said screw-stems, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

LAVRENOE A SU BEES.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM F. DAVIS, HARRY SMITH.

